ENGLISH
REFERENCE

button pusher

idiom
Meaning

Someone who pushes someone else's buttons: someone who goads, annoys, provokes, etc.


Origin

disputed origin

In the provoker sense, by a metaphor in which the recipient's emotions can be manipulated on command as if prompted by literal control buttons. Thus also tangentially comparable with a puppet master who is pulling the strings to manipulate puppets.

Examples
SIMPLE

My brother is such a button pusher when we play games.

CONTEXTUAL

She tries to ignore her coworker, but he is a real button pusher who loves to start arguments.

COMPLEX

Despite his professional demeanor, he proved to be a calculated button pusher, intentionally provoking his rivals during the debate to force them into making a mistake.

Anchors to
Related idioms6entries
  1. 01

    Benjamin Button

    To seemingly age in reverse; to appear younger, either through changes in appearance or one's personality and lifestyle.

  2. 02

    button nose

    A nose with a small size and a relatively flat, round shape, usually considered to be dainty or cute in appearance.

  3. 03

    button one's lip

    To remain silent, especially in order to keep a secret or to avoid saying something inappropriate.

  4. 04

    care a button

    To care (at all).

  5. 05

    hold by the button

    To detain in conversation to the point of weariness or tedium; to bore while tallking to

  6. 06

    press the panic button

    To start to panic.

© 2026 English Reference